The Hon. Alannah MacTiernan

Member for Perth (WA)

ALP, 2013–2016

Alannah MacTiernan was elected to the House of Representatives as the Member for Perth for the Australian Labor Party in 2013, an achievement that came after a long career in state and local politics.

After moving to Western Australia in the early 1970s MacTiernan worked as a public servant and started a local newspaper. On completion of a law degree at the University of Western Australia she practised commercial law and served as a councillor on the Perth City Council. In 1993 she entered state parliament, initially in the Legislative Council and subsequently as the member for Armadale in the Legislative Assembly. For the majority of her 14 years in the Legislative Assembly, MacTiernan held either a ministry or shadow ministry, including seven years as Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. She re-entered local politics in 2011 as the Mayor of the City of Vincent.

During her term in federal parliament, MacTiernan promoted the introduction of voluntary euthanasia and highlighted the importance of combating climate change. She spoke often on the need to improve Australia’s literacy levels, teaching methods and education funding. She also focused on Western Australia’s infrastructure needs, which in 2014 led to her appointment as the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Western Australia and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Infrastructure.

After nearly three decades in politics, MacTiernan resigned in 2016.

The Hon. Alannah MacTiernan in her Parliament House office in front of ‘Ukaka Band at Whitegate’ by Central Australian artist Rod Moss.